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Trinidad and Tobago
 
[Flag of the United Kingdom]
                     18 Feb 1797 - 1 Jan 1889
 
[Trinidad and Tobago colonial flag, 1889-1958]
                     1 Jan 1889 - 13 Oct 1958
 
[Trinidad and Tobago colonial flag, 1958-1962]
                     13 Oct 1958 - 31 Aug 1962
 
[Trinidad and Tobago]
                  Adopted 31 Aug 1962
 

Map of Trinidad
and Tobago
Hear National Anthem
 "Forged From The
Love of Liberty"
Text of National Anthem
Adopted 1962
Constitution
(1 Aug 1976)
Capital: Port-of-Spain
Currency: Trinidad and
Tobago Dollar (TTD)
National Holiday: 31 Aug (1962)
Independence Day
Population: 1,227,505 (2011)
GDP: $26.1 billion (2010)
Exports: $12.7 billion (2010)
Imports: $8.18 billion (2010)
 Ethnic groups: black 39.2%, East Indian (South Asian) 38.6%,
mixed 16.3%, Chinese 1.3%, white 1%, other and
unspecified 3.3% (2000) 
Total Active Armed Forces: 4,063 (2010)
Merchant marine: 6 ships (2010)
Religions: Roman Catholic 26%, Hindu 22.5%, Anglican 7.8%,
Baptist 7.2%, Pentecostal 6.8%, other Christian 5.8%,
Muslim 5.8%, Seventh Day Adventist 4%, other 10.8%,
unspecified 1.4%, none 1.9% (2000) 
International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ACS, AOSIS, APM, BWC, C, Caricom, CDB, CTBT, FAO, G-24, G-77, IADB, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISA, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, KP, LAES, MIGA, NAM, NPT, NTBT, OAS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Trinidad and
Tobago Index
Chronology

31 Jul 1498                Trinidad discovered and claimed for Spain by
                             Columbus, named Isla La Santissima Trinidad.
15 Dec 1521                Trinidad a Spanish colony; subordinated 
                             to Audiencia of Santo Domingo (to 1739).
1592                       Permanent settlement of Trinidad begun, part
                             of the province of Guayana y Trinidad.
27 May 1717                Trinidad part of the Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada.
                             (see Colombia). 
11 May 1724 - 20 Aug 1739  Trinidad subject to Santo Domingo.
1731                       Trinidad made a separate province,
                             of Venezuela.
20 Aug 1739 -  8 Sep 1777  Trinidad part of Viceroyalty of Nueva Granada. 
 4 Jun 1762                Trinidad a Comandancia general
                             (still part of Venezuela).
1762                       Tobago a British colony (French rule 1781-93 and
                             1802-03).
10 Feb 1763                Tobago ceded to Britain by France.
 8 Sep 1777 - 1797         Trinidad a province of Venezuela Captaincy-general.
18 Feb 1797                Trinidad occupied by Britain.
27 Mar 1802                Spain formally cedes Trinidad to Britain;
                             Trinidad a British colony.
 1 Jan 1899                Trinidad and Tobago united.
1956                       Self government
 3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  Part of the Federation of the West Indies
                            (with Antigua, Barbados, Cayman Islands,
                             Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, 
                             St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia,
                             St. Vincent, and Turks and Caicos Islands)
31 Aug 1962                Independence from Britain (Trinidad and Tobago).
 1 Aug 1976                Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and
Tobago
(from 1899)
Trinidad
(1530-1899)
Tobago
(1628-1899)
West Indies
Federation
(1958-1962)
 
 
 
 
 
 

Trinidad
 
[Spanish War Ensign (1785-1931)]
               to 18 Sep 1797 
 
[Flag of the United Kingdom]
                   18 Sep 1797 - 1875
 
[Trinidad colonial flag 1875-1889]
                      1875 - 1 Jan 1889
 
Map of Trinidad
 Capital: Port-of-Spain
(Puerto de España 1783-1797;
San José de Oruña 1592-1783)
Population: 196,000 (1889 est.)

Governors of Guayana and Trinidad
1521 - 1526                Diego Colón Moniz                  (b. 1479/80 - d. 1526)
12 Jul 1530 - 1538         Antonío Sedeño
1571 - 1591                Juan Ponce de León
1580 - 1597                Antonio de Berrío y Oruña          (d. 1597)
1597 - 1612                Fernando de Berrío (1st time)
1615 - 1618                Diego Palomeque de Acuña
1619 - 1622                Fernando de Berrío (2nd time)
1624 - 1631                Luís de Monsalve y Saavedra 
1631 - 1636                Cristóval de Aranda
1636 - 1641                Diego Lopez de Escobar
1642 - 1657                Martín de Mendoza de la Hoy
                             y Berrío
1657 - 1664                Juan de Viedma
1665 - 1668                José de Haspe y Zuñiga
1670 - 1677                Diego Ximenes de Aldana
1678 - 1682                Tiburcio de Haspe y Zuñiga
1682 - 1684                Diego Suárez Ponce de León (1st time)
1684 - 1690                Sebastian de Roseta
1693 - 1696                Diego Suárez Ponce de León (2nd time)
1696 - 1698                Francisco de Menez
1698 - Dec 1699            José de León y Echales             (d. 1699) 
1699 - 1701                .... (acting)
1701 - 1705                Francisco Ruíz de Aguirre
1705 - 1711                Felipe de Artieda
1711 - 1716                Cristóbal Félix de Guzmán
1716 - 1721                Pedro de Jara
1721                       Juan de Orvay (acting)
1721 - 1726                Martín Pérez de Anda y Salazar
1726 - 1730                Agustín de Arredondo
1730 - 1731                Bartolomé de Aldunate y Rada       (d. 1733)
Governors of Trinidad
1731 - 1733                Bartolomé de Aldunate y Rada       (s.a.)
1733 - 11 Oct 1735         José Orbale 
                           + Pedro Ximenes
                           (alcalades ordinarios; acting)
11 Oct 1735 - 1745         Esteban Simón de Liñan y Vera
 4 Dec 1745 - 19 Jun 1746  Félix Espinosa de los Monteros
19 Jun 1746 -  7 Jan 1752  Juan José Salcedo
 7 Jan 1752 - 17 Jan 1757  Francisco Manclares
17 Jan 1757 -  6 Apr 1760  Pedro de la Moneda
 6 Apr 1760 - 1762         Jacinto San Juan
1762 - 1765                José Antonio Gil-Knight
19 Jun 1765 - 1766         Juan de Bruno (acting)
 5 Apr 1766 - 31 Mar 1773  José de Flores
31 Mar 1773 - 30 Nov 1776  Juan de Dios Váldez y Yarza
30 Nov 1776 - 11 Jul 1779  Manuel Falquez                     (d. 1779) 
Aug 1779 - 31 Mar 1781     Rafael Delgar
                             (military governor)
21 Aug 1779 - 31 Mar 1781  Martín de Salaverría
                             (civil governor)
31 Mar 1781 - 23 Jan 1784  Juan Francisco Machado
23 Jan 1784 - 18 Oct 1784  Antonio Barreto (acting)
18 Oct 1784 - 18 Feb 1797  José María Chacón y Sanchez        (b. 1747 - d. 1833)
18 Feb 1797 - Feb 1797     Sir Ralph Abercromby               (b. 1734 - d. 1801)
Feb 1797 - 20 Jun 1803     Thomas Picton (military governor)  (b. 1758 - d. 1815)
                             (military governor to 1 Jun 1801)
1798 -  1 Jun 1801         Commission
                           - William Fullerton                (b. 1758 - d. 1808)
                           - Thomas Picton                    (s.a.)                            - Samuel Hood                      (b. 1762 - d. 1814)
20 Jun 1803 - 30 Jul 1803  William Fullarton                  (s.a.)
30 Jul 1803 -  9 Jan 1810  Sir Thomas Hislop                  (b. 1764 - d. 1843)
 9 Jan 1810 - 25 Apr 1811  Tolly (acting)
25 Apr 1811 - 14 Jun 1813  Hector William Munro               (b. 1769 - d. 1821)
14 Jun 1813 - 12 Apr 1821  Sir Ralph James Woodford (1st time)(b. 1784 - d. 1828)
12 Apr 1821 - 18 Feb 1823  A.W. Young (acting)
18 Feb 1823 -  1 Apr 1828  Sir Ralph James Woodford (2nd time)(s.a.)
 1 Apr 1828 - 18 Apr 1828  Henry Capadose (acting)            (d. 1848)
18 Apr 1828 - 26 Jul 1828  Sir Charles Felix Smith (1st time) (b. 1786 - d. 1858)
26 Jul 1828 - 10 Mar 1829  Peter Farquharson (acting)         (b. 1774 - d. 1861)
10 Mar 1829 - 20 Nov 1829  Lewis Grant (1st time)             (b. 1778 - d. 1852)
20 Nov 1829 - 15 Feb 1830  Doherty (1st time) (acting)
15 Feb 1830 - 15 May 1830  Lewis Grant (2nd time)             (s.a.)
15 May 1830 -  3 Jun 1830  Doherty (2nd time) (acting)
 3 Jun 1830 -  5 Dec 1831  Sir Charles Felix Smith (2nd time) (s.a.)
 5 Dec 1831 -  9 Jun 1833  Sir Lewis Grant (3rd time)         (s.a.)
  9 Jun 1833 -  8 Mar 1839  Sir George Fitzgerald Hill         (b. 1763 - d. 1839)
 8 Mar 1839 - 22 Apr 1839  John Alexander Mein (1st time)     (d. 1841)
                             (acting)
24 Mar 1839 - 28 Mar 1839  Sir Evan John Murray MacGregor     (b. 1785 - d. 1841)
 28 Mar 1839 - 13 Apr 1840  John Alexander Mein (1st time)     (s.a.)
                             (acting)
13 Apr 1840 - 11 Nov 1840  Sir Henry George Macleod (1st time)(b. 1791 - d. 1847)
11 Nov 1840 - 14 Dec 1840  Barlow (acting)
14 Dec 1840 - 25 Sep 1841  Tyler (acting)
25 Sep 1841 -  9 May 1842  Sir Charles Chichester (acting)    (b. 1795 - d. 1847)
 9 May 1842 -  8 Feb 1845  Sir Henry George Macleod (2nd time)(s.a.)
 8 Feb 1845 -  2 Jul 1845  E.C. Archer (acting)
 2 Jul 1845 - 21 Apr 1846  Sir Henry George Macleod (3rd time)(s.a.)
21 Apr 1846 - 12 Jun 1851  George Francis Robert Harris,      (b. 1810 - d. 1872)
                             Baron Harris (1st time)
12 Jun 1851 - 25 Feb 1853  Ward (acting)
25 Feb 1853 - 26 Jan 1854  George Francis Robert Harris,      (s.a.)
                             Baron Harris (2nd time)
26 Jan 1854 - 10 Mar 1854  L. Bourchier (acting)
10 Mar 1854 - 27 Oct 1856  Sir Charles Elliot                 (b. 1801 - d. 1875)
27 Oct 1856 - 26 Jan 1857  B. Brooks (acting)
26 Jan 1857 -  7 Apr 1860  Robert William Keate (1st time)    (b. 1814 - d. 1873)
 7 Apr 1860 - 25 Mar 1861  J. Walker (acting)
25 Mar 1861 - May 1861     Holworthy (acting)
May 1861 -  5 Jul 1864     Robert William Keate (2nd time)    (s.a.)
 5 Jul 1864 -  6 Sep 1866  Thompson (acting)
 6 Sep 1864 - 24 Apr 1866  Sir John Henry Thomas Manners-     (b. 1814 - d. 1877)
                             Sutton
24 Apr 1866 -  7 Nov 1866  E.E. Bushworth (acting)
 7 Nov 1866 -  8 Apr 1868  Sir Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon (b. 1829 - d. 1912) 
                             (1st time)
 8 Apr 1868 - 20 Apr 1868  Bostock (acting)
20 Apr 1868 - 25 Jun 1868  Sir Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon (s.a.)
                             (2nd time)
25 Jun 1868 - 21 Dec 1868  Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright    (b. 1817 - d. 1899)
                             (acting)
21 Dec 1868 - 25 Jun 1870  Sir Arthur Charles Hamilton-Gordon (s.a.)
25 Jun 1870 - 11 Jul 1872  James Robert Longden (1st time)    (b. 1827 - d. 1891)
11 Jul 1872 - 21 May 1873  William Hepburn Rennie (acting)    (b. 1829 - d. 1874)
21 May 1873 - 27 Apr 1874  James Robert Longden (2nd time)    (s.a.)
27 Apr 1874 - 27 May 1874  John Scott Bushe (1st time)(acting)(b. 1826 - d. 1887)
 2 May 1874 - 27 May 1874  William Wellington Cairns          (b. 1828 - d. 1888)
27 May 1874 - 20 Nov 1874  John Scott Bushe (2nd time)(acting)(s.a.)
20 Nov 1874 -  9 Dec 1876  Henry Turner Irving (1st time)     (b. 1833 - d. 1923)
 9 Dec 1876 -  8 Feb 1877  John Scott Bushe (3rd time)(acting)(s.a.)
 8 Feb 1877 -  2 Jan 1878  George William Des Voeux (acting)  (b. 1834 - d. 1909) 
 2 Jan 1878 - 1880         Henry Turner Irving (2nd time)     (s.a.)
1880                       William Rowland Pyne (acting)      (b. 1838 - d. ....)
1880                       William A.G. Young (acting)
 2 Nov 1880 - 1884         Sir Sanford Freeling               (b. 1828 - d. 1894)
1884                       John Scott Bushe (3rd time)(acting)(s.a.)
19 Jun 1884 - 1884         Sir Frederick Palgrave Barlee      (b. 1827 - d. 1884)
                             (acting)
1884 - 1885                John Scott Bushe (4th time)(acting)(s.a.)
24 Jan 1885 - 1885         Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock        (b. 1844 - d. 1908)
1885                       David Wilson (acting)
 9 Oct 1885 - 1891         Sir William Robinson               (b. 1836 - d. 1912)
19 Aug 1891 - 1897         Sir Frederick Napier Broome        (b. 1842 - d. 1896)
 2 Jun 1897 -  1 Jan 1899  Sir Hubert Edward Henry Jerningham (b. 1842 - d. 1914)

Tobago
 
[Flag of the United Kingdom]
                1762 - 1781, 1793 - 1877
 
[Tobago colonial flag 1877-1889]
                     1877 - 6 Apr 1889
 
Map of Tobago
 Capital: Scarborough
(Port Louis 1781-1793;
Georgetown 1762-1768;
Lampsinsstad 1654-1677;
 Nieuw-Vlissingen 1628-1654)
Tobago Assembly Act
(23 Sep 1980/1996)
Population: 59,656 (2008)
18,353 (1890)

 4 Aug 1498                Possibly discovered and claimed for Spain by Columbus,
                             named Isla de la Asunción.
1502                       Named Isla La Magdalena by Alonzo de Ojeda and Juan de la Cosa;
                             later it is known as Tavaco, then Tabagua, finally as Tobago.
1580                       English claim Tobago for England (no settlement). 
1614  (4 months)           Brief Spanish settlement.
1625                       Failed English settlement.
1628                       King Charles I of England, granted Tobago to Philip, Earl of
                             Montgomery (later Earl of Pembroke).
1628 - 1636                Dutch colony (Nieuw Walcheren).
 1 Jan 1637                Dutch colony destroyed by Spanish.
1639 - 1640                English settlement. 
1640 - 1642                Abandoned.
1642                       Tobago granted to the Duke of Courland by English King Charles I,
                             Courlander settlement on northeast coast.
20 May 1654                Courlander (Latvian) colony (New Courland) established on the
                             north-west coast with residence at Jacobstadt (now Plymouth).
Sep 1654                   Rival Dutch colony (Nieuw Vlissingen) established by the Dutch
                             West-Indies Company on the south-west coast (now Scarborough).
11 Dec 1659                Courlander colony occupied by the Dutch, entire island now
                             under Dutch administration.
1662                       Proprietorship griven to Lampsius brothers by French King Louis XIV
Jan 1666 - Aug 1666        English occupation.
Aug 1666 - Mar 1667        French occupation.
Apr 1667 - 18 Dec 1672     Dutch colony.
18 Dec 1672                English destroy Dutch colony, island abandoned.
19 Feb 1674                Tobago restored to the Dutch by Treaty of Westminster.
 1 Sep 1676 -  6 Dec 1677  Dutch colony.
 6 Dec 1677                French destroy Dutch colony and claim entire island,
                             but no settlement made.
10 Aug 1678                Tobago restored to the Dutch by Treaty of Nimeguen.
Jul 1680                   Courlander colony re-established on the island
                             (temporarily abandoned Mar 1683 - Jun 1686).
18 Oct 1684                Declared neutral territory by Treaty of Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle.
May 1690                   Courlanders finally leave their colony but do not withdraw
                             their claims (Courland claimed the island and appointed 
                             governors until 1795, but no Courlander settlement was ever
                             re-established).
1733 - 1733                Sweden attempted settlement on northern coast (named Fort
                             Frederick).
1748 - 1749                French settlements on the island.
1762                       British occupy and claim Togbago, part of British Windward
                             Islands colony as Tobago (see Grenada).
10 Feb 1763                Tobago ceded to Britain by France in Treaty of Paris.
12 Nov 1764                Tobago a separate British colony.
 2 Jun 1781 - 15 Apr 1793  French colony.
15 Apr 1793                British occupation of Tobago.
25 Oct 1797 - 19 Apr 1801  Nominally part of Lucie département of France
                            (Saint Lucia and Tobago; not effected due to
                             British occupation).
30 Jun 1802 - 30 Jun 1803  French colony.
30 Jun 1803                British crown colony.
 1 Apr 1833 - 1889         Part of Windward Islands colony (see Grenada).
 6 Apr 1889                Tobago administratively annexed to Trinidad.
 1 Jan 1899                Trinidad and Tobago united, Tobago a ward of Trinidad.
23 Sep 1980                Autonomy

Spanish Commander
1614  (4 months)           Juan Rodríguez 
Dutch governors
1628 - 1629                Jacob Maerszoon
1632 - 1637                Cornelis de Moor
1636 - 1640                abandoned
1640 - 1654                Courlander rule
1654                       Pieter Becquart
1654 - 1662                Adriaen Lampsius (Lampsins)
French governors
1662 - 1666                Hubert de Beveren
1662 - 1664                Cornelius Lampsius (Lampsins),     (b. 1600 - d. 1664)
                             baron de Tobago (proprietor)
Jan 1666 - Aug 1666        Poyntz -English commandant
Aug 1666 - Mar 1667        Vincent
Dutch governors
1666 - 1667                Abel Tisso
1667                       Abraham Crijnssen                  (d. 1669)
Apr 1667 - 1672            Peter Constant (1st time)                     
18 Dec 1672 - Dec 1672     Sir Tobias Bridge
                             (English commander)
Dec 1672 -  1 Sep 1676     abandoned
 1 Sep 1676 - 12 Dec 1677  Jacob Binckes                      (b. 1637 - d. 1677)
Dec 1677                   Charles-François d'Angennes,       (b. 1648 - d. 1691)
                             marquis de Maintenon
                            (French commander)
1678 - 16..                Peter Constant (2nd time)
Courland governors
1639 - 1640                Robert Marsham                     (d. 1640)
                             (English governor)
1642 - 1643                Edward Marshall
1643 - 1650                Cornelius Caroon
1654 - 11 Dec 1659         Willem Mollens 
1662 - 1689                Maximilian Hubertus Adrian
                             (abandoned Mar 1683 - Jun 1686)
Swedish commander
1733                       ....
French commandant
Dec 1748 - 1749            Hurault
Lieutenant governors
1762 - 1763                .... (commander)
1763 - 12 Nov 1764         Robert Melville                    (b. 1723 - d. 1809)
12 Nov 1764 - Jul 1766     Alexander Brown                    (d. 1766)
 2 Dec 1766 - 16 Oct 1767  William Hill
16 Oct 1767 - 1769         Roderick Gwynne
1770 - 1771                Robert William Stewart (acting)
1771                       Leybourne
1771 - 1777                William Young                      (d. 1788)
1777 - 1779                Peter Campbell (acting)            (d. 1779)
1779 - 1781                John Graham (acting)
1781 -  2 Jun 1781         George Ferguson
Governors
 2 Jun 1781 - 1784         Philibert François Rouxel de       (b. 1735 - d. 1793) 
                             Blanchelande 
1784 - 1786                René Marie, vicomte d'Arrot
1786 - 1789                Arthur, comte Dillon               (b. 1750 - d. 1794)
1789 - 1792                Antoine de Jobal de Poigny         (b. 1747 - d. 1817)
1792 - 1793                Philippe Marie de Marguenat
 3 Feb 1793 - 15 Apr 1793  Pierre Jacques Fulcrand de la      (b. 1740 - d. ....)
                             Roque de Monteil          
15 Apr 1793 - Apr 1793     Cornelius Cuyler (commander)       (b. c.1740 - d. 1819)
Apr 1793 -  4 Jan 1794     William Myers (acting) 
 4 Jan 1794 - 1795         George Poyntz Ricketts             (b. 1749 - d. 1800)
1795 - 22 May 1796         William Lindsay                    (b. 17.. - d. 1796)
1796 - 1797                James Campbell (acting)
1797 - 1799                Stephan de Lancey                  (b. 1748 - d. 1799)
1799 - Jan 1800            Joseph Robley (1st time) (acting)  (d. 1807)
Jan 1800 - Oct 1800        Richard Master                     (b. 17.. - d. 1800)
Oct 1800 - 1801            Joseph Robley (2nd time) (acting)  (s.a.)
1801 -  2 Oct 1802         Hugh Lyle Carmichael (acting)      (b. 1764 - d. 1813)
 2 Oct 1802 - 26 Dec 1802  Jean Joseph François Léonard       (b. 1756 - d. 1802)
                             de Sahuguet d'Amarzit
26 Dec 1802 - 1803         de Muguetot (prefect) (acting)
1803 - 30 Jun 1803         Louis César Gabriel de Berluy,     (b. 1765 - d. 1819)
                             comte Berthier      
30 Jun 1803 - Jul 1803     Thomas Picton (acting)             (b. 1758 - d. 1815)
Jul 1803 - Aug 1803        William Johnstone (acting)
Aug 1803 - Jul 1804        Donald MacDonald (acting)          (b. 17.. - d. 1804)
Jul 1804 - 1805            John Halkett                       (b. 1768 - d. 1852)
1805 - 1806                Mitchell (acting)
1806 - 1807                John Balfour (1st time)(acting)
20 Apr 1807 - 11 Jan 1815  Sir William Young                  (b. 1747 - d. 1815)
1815 - 1816                John Balfour (2nd time)(acting)
1816                       John Campbell (acting)
13 Nov 1816 - 1819         Sir Frederick Philipse Robinson    (b. 1763 - d. 1862)
1819 - 1820                Cumine (acting)
1820 - 1823                Roley (acting)
1823 - 1826                Nichol (acting)
1826 - 1827                Brasnell (acting)
1827 - 1828                Piggott (acting)
 1 Aug 1828 - 1833         Nathaniel Shepherd Blackwell       (d. 1833)
1833                       Alexander Gardner (acting)
1833                       Sir Lionel Smith                   (b. 1778 - d. 1842)
Lieutenant governors
1833 - 1836                Henry Charles Darling (1st time)   (b. 1780 - d. 1845)
1836 - 1842                Evan John Murray McGregor          (b. 1785 - d. 1841)
                             (from 1839, Sir Evan John Murray McGregor)
1842                       Scott (1st time)(acting)
1842                       Sir Charles Edward Grey            (b. 1785 - d. 1865)
1842 - 1845                Henry Charles Darling (2nd time)   (s.a.)
1845                       Scott (2nd time)(acting)
1845                       Yeates (acting)
1845 - 1846                Laurence Graeme (1st time)         (d. 1850) 
1846 - 1848                William Reid
1848 - 1849                William MacBean George Colebrooke  (b. 1787 - d. 1870)
1849 - 1850                Henry Yates (1st time)(acting) 
 1850                       Laurence Graeme (2nd time)         (s.a.)
1850 - 1851                Henry Yates (2nd time)(acting) 
16 Apr 1851 - 26 Jun 1851  David Robert Ross                  (d. 1851)
1851 - 1852                Henry Yates (3rd time)(acting) 
1852                       Dominick Daly                      (b. 1798 - d. 1868)
1852 - Feb 1854            Henry Yates (4th time)(acting)
Feb 1854 - 1856            Willoughby J. Shortland            (b. 1804 - d. 1869)
1856                       Francis Hincks                     (b. 1807 - d. 1885)
1856                       James Kirk (acting)
1856                       James Henry Keens (acting)
1856 - 1860                James Vickery Drysdale (1st time)
1860                       E.D. Baynes (acting)
1860 - Apr 1864            James Vickery Drysdale (2nd time)
1864 - 1872                Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright    (b. 1817 - d. 1899)
                             (acting to 1865)
1872 - 1875                Herbert Taylor Ussher              (b. 1836 - d. 1880)
1875 - 1877                Robert William Harley 
 1 Nov 1877 - 1880         Augustus Frederick Gore            (b. 1826 - d. 1887)
                             (administrator)
1880 - 1882                Edward Daniel Laborde              (b. 1863 - d. 19..)
1882 - 1883                .... (acting)
1883 - 1884                John Worrell Carrington            (b. 1847 - d. 1913)
1884 - 1885                .... (acting)
1885                       Lorraine Gudded Hay (1st time)
1885 - 1888                Robert Baxter Llewellyn            (b. 1845 - d. 1919)
1888 - 1889                Lorraine Gudded Hay (2nd time)
Commissioners
1889 - 1892                Lorraine Gudded Hay
1892                       Thomas Crossley Rayner             (b. 1860 - d. 1914)
1892 - 1893                William Low (1st time)
1893                       H.H. Sealy (acting)
1893 - 1897                William Low (2nd time)
1897                       S.W. Snaggs (acting)
1897 -  1 Jan 1899         Joseph Clanfergael O'Halloran      (b. 1846 - d. 1920)
                             (acting)
Wardens (magistrates)
Jan 1899 - 1903            James Todd Rousseau (1st time)     (b. 1860 - d. 1910)
1903 - 1904                W.C. Nock (acting)
1904 - 28 Oct 1910         James Todd Rousseau (2nd time)     (s.a.)
Feb 1911 - May 1913        Edward Carlyon Eliot               (b. 1879 - d. 1940)
1913? - 1919?              H.P.C. Strange
Jan 1919 - c.1924          Leonardo Joseph Sorzano
1926 - 1937                Henry Meaden                       (b. 1882 - d. 19..)
1938 - 1944                Ca....
1944 - 1956                Thomas Charles Cambridge
 1956 - 1958                ....
Commissioners for Tobago Affairs
10 Mar 1958 - 1959         G.W. Gordon
                            (permanent secretary for Tobago affairs)
1959 - c.1971              Victor E. Bruce
Ministers for Tobago Affairs
1959 - 1971?               Eric Eustace Williams              (b. 1911 - d. 1981)  PNM
1971 - Sep 1976            Wilbert Winchester                 (b. 1932 - d. 2008)  PNM
1976 - 1980                ....
Chairmen of the House of Assembly
 4 Dec 1980 - 16 Dec 1986  Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson   (b. 1926)           DAC;1986 NAR
 16 Dec 1986 - 31 Oct 1989  Jefferson "Jeff" Davidson                               NAR
 1 Nov 1989 - Dec 1996     Lennox Alcindor Denoon             (b. 1930 - d. 2007)  NAR
Chief Secretaries of the House of Assembly
Dec 1996 - 31 Jan 2001     Hochoy Charles                                          NAR 
 1 Feb 2001 -              Orville Delano London              (b. 1945)            PNM

Party abbreviations: DAC = Democratic Action Congress (autonomist, merged into NAR 1986-2004); NAR = National Alliance for Reconstruction (A.N.R. Robinson personalist, aimed at Trinidadians of Black [and to 1988 Indian descent); PNM = People's National Movement (conservative, mainly ethnic Black, est.1956)


Trinidad and Tobago

 1 Jan 1899                Trinidad and Tobago united.
 3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  Part of the Federation of the West Indies.
31 Aug 1962                Independence
 1 Aug 1976                Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Governors
 1 Jan 1899 - 1900         Sir Hubert Edward Henry Jerningham   (s.a.)
 4 Dec 1900 - 1904         Sir Cornelius Alfred Moloney         (b. 1848 - d. 1913)
30 Aug 1904 - 29 Aug 1908  Sir Henry Moore Jackson              (b. 1849 - d. 1908)
11 May 1909 - Jan 1916     Sir George Ruthven Le Hunte          (b. 1852 - d. 1925)
 1 Jun 1916 - 1921         Sir John Robert Chancellor           (b. 1870 - d. 1952)
 1 Jan 1922 - 1924         Sir Samuel Herbert Wilson            (b. 1873 - d. 1950)
Aug 1924 - 1924            Sir Thomas Alexander Best (acting)   (b. 1870 - d. 1941)
22 Nov 1924 - 1930         Sir Horace Archer Byatt              (b. 1875 - d. 1933)
22 Mar 1930 - 1936         Sir Alfred Claud Hollis              (b. 1874 - d. 1961)
17 Sep 1936 - 1938         Sir Arthur George Murchison Fletcher (b. 1878 - d. 1954)
 8 Jul 1938 - 1942         Sir Hubert Winthrop Young            (b. 1885 - d. 1950)
 8 Jun 1942 - 1947         Sir Bede Edmund Hugh Clifford        (b. 1890 - d. 1969)
 7 Mar 1947 - 1950         Sir John Valentine Wistar Shaw       (b. 1894 - d. 1982)
19 Apr 1950 - 1955         Sir Hubert Elvin Rance               (b. 1898 - d. 1974)
23 Jun 1955 - 1960         Sir Edward Betham Beetham            (b. 1905 - d. 1979)
 4 Jul 1960 - 31 Aug 1962  Sir Solomon Hochoy                   (b. 1905 - d. 1983)
Queen¹
31 Aug 1962 -  1 Aug 1976  the Queen of the United Kingdom
Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)
31 Aug 1962 - 15 Sep 1972  Sir Solomon Hochoy                   (s.a.)
15 Sep 1972 -  1 Aug 1976  Sir Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke   (b. 1917 - d. 2010)
Presidents
 1 Aug 1976 - 13 Mar 1987  Ellis Emmanuel Innocent Clarke       (s.a.)           PNM/Non-party
                             (acting to 28 Jan 1977) 
13 Mar 1987 - 18 Mar 1987  Michael J. Williams (acting)         (b. 1929)            NAR
18 Mar 1987 - 18 Mar 1997  Noor Mohamed Hassanali               (b. 1918 - d. 2006)  Non-party
18 Mar 1997 - 17 Mar 2003  Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson     (b. 1926)        NAR/Non-party
17 Mar 2003 -              George Maxwell Richards              (b. 1931)        PNM/Non-party

Chief minister
28 Oct 1956 -  9 Jul 1959  Eric Eustace Williams                (b. 1911 - d. 1981)  PNM
Premier
 9 Jul 1959 - Dec 1961     Eric Eustace Williams                (s.a.)               PNM
Prime ministers
Dec 1961 - 29 Mar 1981     Eric Eustace Williams                (s.a.)               PNM
30 Mar 1981 - 18 Dec 1986  George Michael Chambers              (b. 1928 - d. 1997)  PNM
18 Dec 1986 - 17 Dec 1991  Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson     (s.a.)               NAR
17 Dec 1991 -  9 Nov 1995  Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning      (b. 1946)            PNM
                             (1st time) 
 9 Nov 1995 - 24 Dec 2001  Basdeo Panday                        (b. 1933)            UNC
24 Dec 2001 - 26 May 2010  Patrick Augustus Mervyn Manning      (s.a.)               PNM
                             (2nd time) 
26 May 2010 -              Kamla Persad-Bissessar (f)           (b. 1952)            UNC

  ¹Full style
(a) 31 Aug 1962 - 2 Nov 1962: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith";
(b) 2 Nov 1962 -  1 Aug 1976: "By the Grace of God, Queen of Trinidad and Tobago and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

Territorial Disputes: Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago abide by the Apr 2006 Permanent Court of Arbitration decision delimiting a maritime boundary and limiting catches of flying fish in Trinidad and Tobago's exclusive economic zone; in 2005, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago agreed to compulsory international arbitration under UNCLOS challenging whether the northern limit of Trinidad and Tobago's and Venezuela's maritime boundary extends into Barbadian waters; Guyana has also expressed its intention to include itself in the arbitration as the Trinidad and Tobago-Venezuela maritime boundary may extend into its waters as well.

Party abbreviations: NAR = National Alliance for Reconstruction (A.N.R. Robinson personalist, aimed at Trinidadians of Black [and to 1988 Indian descent]); PNM = People's National Movement (conservative, mainly ethnic Black, est.1956); UNC = United National Congress (centerist, 
social-democratic, mainly ethnic East Indian, 1988 split from NAR)


Federation of the West Indies

[West Indies Federation, 1958-62]
                     3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962
 
Map of the West Indies
Federation
Hear National Anthem
 "God Save the Queen" 
Text of National Anthem
British Caribbean Fed. Act
(3 Jan 1958)
-----------------------------
Appendix -Commencement
Capital: Port-of-Spain
(future capital  Chaguaramas)
Currency 1951-1962: British
West Indies Dollar
(XBWD)
National Holidays: 3 Jan (1958)
Inception of the Federation
-----------------------------------
23 Feb (1958)
Federation Day
Population: 3,117,300 (1960)
GDP: N/A
Exports: $580.6 million (1960)
Imports: $474.4 million (1960)
Ethnic groups: Black, White, Indo-Paskistani, 
Carib, other
Total Armed Forces: N/A
Defense was the Responsibility of U.K.
Religions: mostly Protestant, some Catholic,
Hindu
International Organizations/Treaties: IOC, UPU

 3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  Federation of the West Indies (Antigua, Barbados,
                             Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica,
                             Montserrat, St. Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Lucia,
                             St. Vincent, and Turks and Caicos Islands)
                            (less commonly referred to as British Caribbean Federation).

Governor-general
 3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  Patrick George Thomas              (b. 1901 - d. 1974)
                             Buchan-Hepburn, Baron Hailes 

Prime minister
18 Apr 1958 - 31 May 1962  Sir Grantley Herbert Adams         (b. 1898 - d. 1971)  WIFLP

Party abbreviations: WIFLP = West Indian Federation Labour Party (social-democratic, urban);
DLP = Democratic Labor Party (conservative, rural)






 ©2000  Ben Cahoon